Removable baseboard for concealed radiators



Feb. 21,1933.

L. P. DWYER REMOVABLE BASEBOARD FOR CONCEALED RADIATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12, 1951.

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REMOVABLE BASEBOARD FOR CONCEALED RADIATORS Filed June 12, 1951 v 2.Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 21, 1933 7 UNITED STATES Parser caries LAWRENCE P. IDVYER, OF WINNETKA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T C. A. DUNHAM COMPANY, OF IVIARSHALLTOWN, IO'WA, A CGR'EORATION OF IOYVA REMOVABLE BASEBOARD FOB CONCEALED RADIATGRS Application filed June 12,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a removable baseboard section for covering, or partially cover: ing, the inlet opening leading to a concealed radiator positioned within a wall recess;

The importance of keeping all of the space in a building available for use, as well as the desire to avoid having heating equipment spoil the interior decorative efi'ect of a room, has made concealed radiation very desirable. To accomplish this result the radiator is installed in a recess in the building wall and delivers its heat principally by means of convection air currents, the air flowing into and through the recess in contact with the radiator and being discharged into the room after being heated. A preferred radiator assembly of this type is disclosed and claimed in my copending'application, Serial No. 543,871, filed June 12, 1931.

contact with the radiator'and the heated air is discharged throughthe upper outlet opening. In the preferred example disclosed in my copending application above referred to, the radiator may be inserted into the casing or removed therefrom through the lower inlet opening. 7 o

As disclosed in said copending application theinlet and outlet openings are both covered by suitable removable grilles which par- 40 tially cover and protect these openings without materially interfering with the flow of the air currents through the casing, and which may be made to conform to the" decorative effect of the room. In some installations it is 5 not desirable to provide a grille for the lower inlet opening, but it has been found prefer able to leave an opening entirely free so that the inletmay be kept clean without the necessity for removing the grille. It is desirable 5 that this clear opening be smaller than the 1931. Serial No. 543,873.

main inlet opening through which the radiator is inserted or removed. According to the present invention a section of the usual baseboard which is positioned at the base of the side walls of the room, said section being of sufficient length to cover the main inlet opening leading to the casing, is made removable and is provided with a smaller air inlet opening in its lower central portion. llcieans are provided engageable with the bottom cdgeand rear face of the removable baseboardsection for holding this section in normal position, said means being concealed but readily accessible through the air inlet opening in the removable section.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved removable baseboard section such as briefly described hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specifications which follow.

Another object is to provide a removable baseboard section with matched beveled end portions so as to apparently form a continuous portion of the room baseboard when in position.

Another object is to provide improved spring means mounted within the radiator casing or wall recess for holding the removable baseboard section in place.

Another object is to provide improved turnbuckle mechanism positioned within the radiator casing or wall recess for holding the removable baseboard section in position.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of certain approved forms of mechanism constructed according to the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of the room wall showing the radiator assembly installed and the removable baseboard section in position.

2 is a transverse vertical section through the radiator assembly with the baseboard section in position.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the lower portion of the radiator assembly with the baseboard section removed.

Fig. l is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line l-4r of Fig. 3 but showing the removable baseboard section in position.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the removable baseboard section.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the lower portion of the assembly showing an alternative means for holding the removable baseboard section in position.

l he sheet metal casing which houses the adiator comprises an upper section 1 having an open lower end, and a lower section 2 having an open upper end, these two sections telescoping together as indicated at 3 so that the vertical height of the assembled casing may be varied according to the needs of the individual installation. The casing is housed within a wall recess 5 between two adjacent vertical studs 6. The upper casing member 1 is cut away across the upper portion of its frontwall to form an air outlet opening, this opening being surrounded by a flanged collar 7 which projects through the inner sheathing 8 (the lathing and plaster) of the building wall. and a removable grille f) is positioned in this opening. A damper 10 carried by the grille 9 and adjustable by means of a knob 11 mounted in the grille controls the flow of air through the radiator casing.

The bottom portion of the front wall olthe lower casing section 2 is cut away across its entire width to form an inlet opening adjacent the floor through which the air to be heated encers, and through wh ich the radiator 12 may be inserted or removed. The upper side and ends of this inlet opening are enclosed by a flanged collar 1.3 which projects through the wall sheathing 8.

The radiator 12 (which is disclosed more specifically and claimed in my copending application referred to hereinabove) comprises a pair of end headers 12 connected by a plurality of radiating tubes 1 1 having spiral fins 15 thereon to increase the radiating surface. An inlet fitting or valve 16 is connected with the lower portion of one header 12, and an outlet trap 17 is connected with the lower portion of the other header, the supply and return pipes of the heating sy tem leading from these members 16 and 17 through the ends or bottoms of the casino". The inlet fitting 1(5 and the trap 17 are positioned within the overall length of the radiator, and when the steam supply and return pipes are disconnected. the entire radiator assembly ma be withdrawn from the casing through the inlet opening 18 in the building wall. The radiator is normally held in position within the casing by means oi removable bolts 19 engaged with the end walls of the casin through lugs 20 formed on the bottoms of the respective headers 12, and by means of springs 21 mounted in the upper vortion of ti e lower casing section 2 and engageable with the upper end portions of the headers. By simply removing the bolts 19 the radiator may be withdrawn through opening 18, and it may be replaced by reversing these steps.

As disclosed in my copending application above referred to, the inlet opening 18 is closed by a rmovable grille somewhatsimilar to the upper grille S} which closes the outlet opening. According to the present invention the baseboard 22 which titted against the lower portion of the side wall adjacent the floor 221-} of the room is continued across the inlet opening 18 to form a closure for this opening. its will be clear from an inspection oi Figs of the drawings, the inlet 2 and 3 opening is or somewhat less height than its the baseboard :2 so that the basel'ioard 02;- tends above the upper edge or the opening.

A removable baseboardsection 24- is provided of somewhat greater length than the total length of the inlet opening 18 leading to the casing. Preferably the ends of this re.- movable section 2st arc beveled inwardly from the outer surface as indicated at 25 so as to mate with correspondingly outwardly beveled surfaces :26 on the ends of the adjacent lixed sections of the baseboard. Prel erably the removable baseboard section should be cut out of the continuous piece used for the adjacent 'xcl baseboard. sections so that the grain will match at the beveled joints. in this way the appearance of a continuous and uninterrupted baseboard is obtained. The central lower portion of the removable section cut away as indicated at 27 to provide an opening for the inlet air. The floor 23 c:-:tcnds continuously beneath this opening so that the lower portion o'l the wall recess may be easily cleaned out. At the same time no material portion ot the radiator assembly is visible through this relatively shallow opening. and the ornamental appearance of the room is not seriously impaired. In order to strengthen the removablebaseboard section 24. and prevent warping thereof. a n'lctallic reinforcing plate :28 may be secured to the rear face of the section adjacent the upper edge of the air inlet opening Of course, a more extensive rciniorcing plate could be used it desired, but a strip such as indicated at 28 will ordinarily be sullicient. It will be noted that this reinforcing plate will. lie within the inlet. opening 18 so as not interfere with the flush positioning of the ren'iovable lmseboard section against the building wall.

It is desirable. that this baseboard section ll. be easily removable so that the full extent ot opening 18 will be available for removadjusting or repairing the radiator asnbly. The (piarter-rmunl molding strips which are positioned at the juncture of the baseboard with the floor are cont'nued it in front of the removable section Ll to the edges of the opening 21 therein.

Similar molding strips 30 are positioned on :door 43 inside the opening 18 at the two sides of the opening 27 so as to form slots in whichrcst the wider end portions of the removable baseboard section 2 1. A plurality of eyes or hooks 31 are secured in the rear ace of section 2% adjacent the upper edge of opening 27. Opposite these hooks in the rear sheet metal wall of easing section 2 are cut pairs of openings 32 so as to form intervening metal strips 33 (see Fig. Tension springs 34: are formed with hooks 35 at their ends so as to be removably engaged with the hooks 31 on the removable baseboard section and withthe strips in the rear wall of the casing. lheferably the anchoring means 3-3 in the rear casing wall are positioned somewhat below the hooks 31 on the emovable baseboard section so that the pull of the springs 34; will be exerted downwardly and rearwardly, thus securely holding the removable baseboard section in place.

It wil now be apparent that by inserting ahand through the opening 27 in section the springs may be unfastenel from the hooks 3]. and the removable section 24 may then'be lifted out so as to uncover the entire inlet opening 18 and permit access to the radiator. It the radiator is to be removed, the springs 23% will preferably be unhooked from the strips in the rear casing'wall so as noteto be in the way of the radiator While it is being removed or replaced. It is for this reason that the strips are utilized as an anchoring means for the springs, thus avoiding the use of any unnecessary projections on the rear wall of the casing 2. Except for this objection any other form of books or eyes could be mounted in the casing wall to anchor the s iirinn s 3%. It wi l be apparcut that the engagingineans ell and 35 on the removable section 2% and springs 3% may be both hooks, or either one may be a hook and the other an eye as may be niost'convenient. The terms hooks or eyes used. in the claims which "follow are intended to cover any such alternative constructions.

It fasteners which exert a constant holding action are d sired instead of the resilient fasteners 34, turnbuckles 36 may be substituted tor the springs as indicated in 6. These turnbuckles may be engaged with the removable section 2i and the rear wall of the casing in exactly thesame manner as springs 53%, and the turnbuckle-s may be screwed up in a well known manner so as to firmly clamp the removable baseboard section in place. It will be apparent that access to the turnlnicl-tles for *ing the same position or unscrewing; them wh i the base-' board to be removed, is possibl. the air inlet opening Other fastening means -i ght be used. the err. feature being that these fastening means concealedbehind the removable baseboard were not used, the rear ends section and within the radiator casing, but are sulliciently accessible through the air inlet opening so that they may be readily untastened to permit the removable baseboard section to be withdrawn.

it will be apparent that it the lower portion or rear wall of the sheet metal casing 35 of the fasteners for securing the removable baseboard section in place could be attached in any suitable manner to the wall at the back of the wall reces 5. The fasteners would function in the same manner as already described.

I claim 1. in combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a wall recess there being an inlet opening leading to the recess through the inner wall sheathing ot' the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted within the casing, a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room, said removable section covering the inlet opening' and formed with a smaller opening "for permitting air to enter the casing, and concealed. means engaged with the rear of the bas'aeboard section for holding; the baseboa rd so on in position over the inlet opening'. said means being accessible through the opening in the removable section.

2. In comljiination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned ahin wall there being an inlet openleading to toe recess through the inner wall sheathing oi the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted within the casing, a rei'imvablebaseboard section forming a port on oi? the continuous baseboard oi the room, said removable section covering the inlet openii'ig and formed with a smaller opening for pQ'i'llll't-tlllg air to enter the casing, and means housed within the casing and accessible hrouggh the openingin the removable section for holding" the section in position over the inlet opening.

In combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned vithin a wall recess there being an inlet opening leading to the recess through the inner wa l eathing ot' the room adjacent the floor,

at. the rear of the recess and removably attached at their front ones to the eyes.

In combination wih a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a wall recess and having an inlet opening projecting through the inner wall sheathing of the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted within the casing, a removable baseboard section forming; a portion of the continuous baseboard ot the room, said removable section covering the inlet opening and formed with a smaller opei'iing tor permitting air to enter the casing, a plurality oil eves secured on the rear face of the removable section adjacent the opening therein, the casing comprising a rear sheet metal wall from which iacent pairs of openings are cut to form iinervening metal strips, and springs having: hooked ends adaptet to engaged with the strips and eves respectively to hold the baseboard section in position over the inlet opening.

5. In con'ibination with a concealed radiator assembly comprisim; a casing positioned within a wall recess and having an inlet opening projecting through the inner wall sheathiiio" ot the room adjacent the lie ir. and a radiator mounted within the ca no. a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous basebo: rd oi the room, said rcnnrsable section covering the inlet opening and formed with a smaller opening for permitting" air to enter the casing. a plurality of eves secured on the rear face oi? the removable section adjacent the opening therein, the casing comprising a rear sheet metal "all from which adjacent pairs ot' openings are cut to term intervening metal straps, and turnbucltles engaged at their ends with the strips and eyes respectively.

6. In combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a wall recess there being an inlet opening leading to the recess through the inner wall sheathing ot the room adjacent thefioor, and a radiator mounted within the casing, aremovable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room. said removable section covering the inlet openingand formed with a smaller opening for permitting air to enter the casing", a plurality of eyes secured on the rear face of the removable section adjacent the opening therein, and turnbm-kles secured at their inner ends adjacent the rear wall of the recess and reinovablv attached at their outer ends to the eves.

7. In combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing; positioned within a all recess there being an inlet opening leading to the recess through the inner wall sheathing ot' the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted within the casing, a remo able baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard ot tic room, said removable section covering;- the inlet opening and formed with a smaller opcning for permitting air to enter the casing: concealed means removably engang the rear ot the section, and means for holding the baseboard section in position over the inlet openin 8. In combination with a concealed radiator assem wly adapted to be positioned within a wall recess, said recess having an upper outlet opening and a lower inlet opening adjacent the floor and projecting through the inner wall sheathing of the room, a removable baseboard section tormii'ig a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room, said removable section covering the inlet, opening and formed with a smaller opening for permitting air to enter the wall recess in which the radiator is positioned, means secured to the floor for removably receiving and holding the lower edge portion of the removable baseboard section and means for remo ably securing the upper portion of the removable section to an inner wall of the recess.

9. In combination with a concealed radiator assembly adapted to be positioned within a wall recess, said recess having; an upper outlet opening and a lower inlet opening adjacent the floor and projecting through the in ner wall sheathing of the room, a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room, said removable section covering the inlet opening and formed with a smaller opening for permitting air to enter the wall recess in which the radiator is positioned, and means positioned. within the wall recess and accessible through the smaller opening for removable attachment to the baseboard section for holding the section in position over the inlet openmg.

10. In coi'nbination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a wall recess there being an inlet opening leading to the recess through the inner wall sheathing of the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted within the casing, a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room, the ends of the removable section being beveled inwardly from the front face of the section to mate with the outwardly beveled ends of the adjacentlixed baseboard sections, said removable section being of a length sufficient to cover the inlet opening and formed with a smaller opening for permitting air to enter the casing, and concealed means accessible through the smaller opening for holding the baseboard section in position over the inlet opening.

11.. In combination with a, concealed. radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a wall recess and having an inlet openin; projecting through the inner wall sheathing of the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted within the casing, a removable aseboard section forming; a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room, the ends of the removable section being beveled inwardly from the fronti'ace of the section to mate with the-outwardlybeveled ends or" the adjacent fixed baseboard'sections, said removable section covering the inlet opening and formed with a smaller opening for permitting air to enter the casing, a plurality of eyes secured on the rear face of the removable section adjacent the opening therein, the casing comprising a rear sheet metal wall from which adjacent pairs of openings are cut to form intervening"metal strips, and springs having hooked ends adapted to be engaged with the strips and eyes respectively to hold the baseboard section in position over the inlet openin 12. In combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a wall recess there being an inlet opening leading to the recess through the inner wall sheathing of the room acent th floor, and a radiator mounted in the casing and removable through the inlet opening, a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard or" the room, said removable section covering the inlet opening and being cutaway in its lower central portion to form an air inlet of less length and height than the main inlet opening, molding strips secured to the floor between which the lower portions of the removable section at the sides of the air opening are engaged, and means removably engaged between the rear face of the removable section and an inner wall of the recess for holding the section in position over the inlet opening.

13. In combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a wall recess there being an inlet opening leading to the recess through the inner wall sheathing of the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted in the casing and removable through the inlet opening, a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room, said removable section covering the inlet opening and being cut away in its lower central portion to form an air inlet of less length and height than the main inlet opening, molding strips secured to the floor between which the lower portions of the removable section at the sides of the air opening are engaged, and means housed within the casing and accessible through the air opening for holding the removable section in position over the inlet opening.

14:. In combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned Within a wall recess there being an inlet opening leading to the recess through the inner wall sheathing of the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted in the casing and removable through the inlet opening, a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room, said removable section covering the inlet opening and being cut away in its lower central portion to form an air inlet of less length and height than the main inlet opening, molding strips secured to the floor between which the lower portions of the removable section at the sides of the air opening are engaged, a plurality of eyes secured to the rear face of the section adjacent the opening therein, and springs secured at their rear ends adjacent the rear wall of the recess and removably attached at their front ends to the eyes.

15. In combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a wall recess there being an inlet opening leading to the recess through the inner wall sheathing of the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted in the casing and removable through the inlet opening, a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room, said removable section covering the inlet opening and being cut away in its lower central portion to form an air inlet of less length and height than the main inlet 0 iening, molding strips secured to the floor between which the lower portions of the removable section at the sides of the air opening are engaged, a plurality of eyes secured to the rear face of the section adjacent the opening therein, and tnrnbuclrles secured at their rear ends adjacent the rear wall of the recess and removably attached at their front ends to the eyes.

16. In combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a wall recess and having an inlet opening projecting through the inner wall sheathing of the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted in the casing and removable through the inlet opening, a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard or" the room, said removable section covering the inlet opening and being cut away in its lower central portion to form an air inlet of less length and height than the main inlet opening, molding strips secured to the floor between which the lower portions of the removable section at the sides of the air opening are engaged, a plurality of eyes secured to the rear face of the section adj acent the opening therein, the casing comprising a sheet metal wall from which adjacent pairs of openings are cut to form intervening metal strips, and springs having hooked ends engageable with the strips and eyes respectively.

17 ."In combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a wall recess and having an inlet opening projecting through the inner wall sheathing of the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted in the casing and removable through the inlet opening, a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room, said removable section covering the inlet opening and being cut away in its lower central pertion to form an air inlet of less length and height than the main inlet opening, molding strips secured to the floor between which the lower portions of the removable section at the sides of the air opening are engaged, a plurality of eyes secured to the rear face of the section adjacent the opening therein, the casing comprising a sheet metal wall from which adjacent pairs of openings are cut to form intervening metal strips, and turnbuckles having hooked ends engageable with the strips and eyes respectively.

18. In combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a wall recess there being an inlet opening leading to the recess throi'igh the inner wall sheathing of the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted in the casing and removable through the inlet opening, a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room, the ends of the removable section being beveled inwardly from the front face of the section to mate with the outwardly beveled ends of the adjacent fixed baseboard sections, said removable section covering the inlet opening and being cut away in its lower central portion to form an air inlet of less length and height than the main inlet opening, molding strips secured to the floor between which the lower portions of the removable section at the sides of the air opening are engaged, a plurality of eyes secured to the rear face of the section adjacent the opening therein, and springs secured at their rear ends adjacent the rear wall of the recess and removably attached at their front ends to the eyes.

19. In combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a Wall recess there being an inlet opening leading to the recess through the inner wall sheathing of the room adjacent the floor, and a radiatormounted in the easing and removable through the inlet opening, a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room, the ends of the removable section being beveled inwardly from the front face of the section to mate with the outwardly beveled ends of the adjacent fixed baseboard sections, said removable section covering the inlet opening and being cut away in its lower central portion to form an air inlet of less length and height than the main inlet opening, molding strips secured to the floor between which the lower portions of the removable section at the sides of the air opening are engaged, and means removably engaged between the rear face of the removable section and the rear wall of the recess for holding the section in position over the inlet opening.

20. In combination with a concealed radiator assembly comprising a casing positioned within a wall recess and having an inlet opening projecting through the inner wall sheathing of the room adjacent the floor, and a radiator mounted in the casing and removable through the inlet opening, a removable baseboard section forming a portion of the continuous baseboard of the room, the ends of the removable section being beveled inwardly from the front face of the section to mate with the out *ardly beveled ends of the adjacent fixed baseboard sections, said removable section covering the inlet opening and being cut away in its lower central portion to form an air inlet of less length and height than the main inlet opening, molding strips secured to the floor between which the lower portions of the removable section at the sides of the air opening are engaged, a plurality of eyes secured to the rear face of the section adjacent the opening therein, the casing comprising a sheet metal wall from which adjacent pairs of openings are cut to form intervening metal strips, and springs having hooked ends engageable with the strips and eyes respectively.

LAWRENCE P. DlVYER. 

